Ballet Savannah loses director

Several months after agreeing to help build the city's first professional ballet company in more than 20 years, Elie Lazar quit Tuesday as artistic director of Ballet Savannah.

Lazar, founder of the Joffrey Ensemble Dancers in New York City, said he chose to explore other options before committing to Ballet Savannah in the way the company required.

Lazar's resignation came five weeks after officials of the dance company decided that staging a production of "The Nutcracker" in November was critical, said Steve Barnhill, business manager of Ballet Savannah. Barnhill said that after hiring Lazar he didn't anticipate the magnitude of undertaking "The Nutcracker" and quickly discovered a full-time, year-round artistic director was needed.

Ballet Savannah then hired another choreographer, James Atkinson, to spearhead the production and act in the same capacity as Lazar as co-artistic director.

Lazar and Atkinson each would be responsible for alternating productions throughout the season and answer to Executive Director Amy Barnhill, said Steve Barnhill earlier this week.

Lazar said Atkinson's hiring was not the reason for his resignation, but did say that professional ballet companies "never have two artistic directors."

"I wish them all the best," said Lazar, who has been teaching in Alabama since September.